Electrolyte for use in electric batteries.



WALLACE JAMES IlAMBERT-SANDY, OF LONDON, ENGLAND;

EnEoTaoLYTE FOR UsE IN ELECTRIC BATTERIES.

No brewing.

To all whom it may concern; Be it known that I, WALLACE JAMES LAMBERT SANDY, electrical engineer, a subjectof the King of Great Britain; residing 'at Britannia orks, Canal Bridge, Old Kent Road, London, England, have invented an Improved Electrolyte for Use in electrolyte of the class. containing sulfuric acid. hydrochloric acid and chronnc acld or.

Electric Batteries, of which the following'is a spccllicatlon' This invention relates to an imprt'iv ed sodium bichromate for use in electric batteries, the electrodes ofwhich may be of carbon and zinc. r

A concentrated solution of sodium or potassium bichromate and concentrated bydrocl'lloric acid generate chlorin at the ordinarytemperature,while a dilute solutionot the two substances does not evolve'chlorin even by warming. Evidently, therefore, there must be a critical concentration of the bichroinate and hydrochloric acid, at which the solutiomhvhile not of itself evolving" chlorin, is in the best condition for acting a potential .chlorin generator, that is, has the maximum tendency to produce chlorm 1n the presence of an oxldizable substance,

such as hydrogen; \Ve have discovered an electrolyte in which this critical concentration is more nearly attained than 'in any other electrolyte of similar character, wh ch electrolyte-possesses the property of not giv-- ing ofi any considerable amount of gases and so can be used in' a closed cell. This electrolyte may be produced from the following substance in about the proportions stated, viz: by adding to 36 fluid ounces of a mixture containing .2 volumes sulfuric acid, 2 volumes hydrochloric acid and 1 volume of water the following; 32 ounces bi- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 22, 1908. Serial No. 449,774.

Patented. Nov 23, 1909.

chromate of sodium dissolved in 12:5 ounces of water and 6 fluid ounces of a saturated solution of c 1st1c soda.

One metho of making the electrdiytegis by mixing sulfuriqacid, of a strengtlr,,gen'- erally known in commerce as concentrated,

say 60 Baume, the specific gravity. being 1.71, with half its volume ff water, to this is added in small quantities at a time ordi- 5 nary commercial concentrated hydrochloric acid, say 21 Baum, the specific gravity being 1.17. At first bubbles of gas are given 01f butthese stop as soon as the requisite amount of hydrochloric acid has been 55 added; it will then be found that the quantity of hydrochloric acidwhich has been added is nearly equal in quantity to. the-sulfuric acid. Thirty-two ounces of sodium bichromate is then dissolved in one hundred 60,

and twenty-eighty fluid ounces of water, with this solution is thoroughly mixed thirty-six fluid ounces of the sulfuric-hydrochloric acid mixture above described, and

'to the whole is added six fluid ounces of 5 caustic soda (formedby dissolving 5 oz. of caustic soda in 6 oz. of water or its equivalent of potash.

'Iclaim as my invention An electrolyte produced by adding to 36 7 fluid ounces of a mixture containing 2 vol-' umes sulfuric acid, 2 volumes of hydrochloric acid and 1 volume of water the following; 32 ounces of bichromate of sodiuln dissolved in 128 ounces of water and 6 fluid 5 ounces of a saturated solution of caustic soda.-

WiLLACE JAMES LAMBERT SANDY.

Witnesses: H. D. Jamison A. Norma-1 

